B&w photos won't export

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Level 1

9 points

B&w photos won't export

This is weird: I have imported a bunch of both colour and b&w photos (from scanned prints), all show as expected in Photos, all have been edited (cropped, adjusted). Now when I try to export them, all the modified colour images export as normal but none of the b&w images export — error message:

I can drag modified b&w images to desktop, and also export unmodified originals. But can't export modified b&w photos either from thumbnails or from open/full size photo.

Have tried:

Repair library
Restart
Reinstall MacOS
Reverting b&w photos to original — also doesn't export
Individual photo vs. bulk photo export

Using MacOS Catalina 10.15.7, Photos 5.0, Mac mini 2012.

Any thoughts/solutions greatly appreciated.

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Aug 29, 2023 7:44 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Matti Haveri

Level 7

20,732 points

Sep 2, 2023 8:55 AM in response to wjwt

I can provoke the same kind of export error with:

Import Grayscale .jpg with "ICC_Profile:ProfileDescription:Dot Gain 20%" to Photos (the latest Photoshop inserts that ICC by default to grayscale images).
Export > Photo [JPEG, Color Profile: Original] → Export error.

But the export succeeds with [Color Profile: Most Compatible] or Export > Unmodified Original.

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

202,205 points

Aug 29, 2023 8:09 AM in response to wjwt

When you scanned the B&W photos, the scanner may have embedded a color sync profile, that is no longer supported on macOS Catalina. Then you may need to replace the color sync profile.

Try to export the unmodified original from Photos. Then rename the file and try to reimport it to Photos. If Photos is refusing to import the exported file, something is wrong with it.
Then open the exported file in Preview and check the Color Sync Profile. In Preview: Tools > Inspector > General. Look at the profile name.
To replace the profile by a more compatible profile, use Tools > Assign profile.

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Answer 3

wjwt Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 2, 2023 12:14 AM in response to léonie

Thank you léonie - that was really clear and helpful, and prompted me to check other things as well. Here's what I found:

Reinstalled MacOS Catalina in order to reinstall Photos — Export in Photos still not working
Changed the image's color profile — tried all 5x grey profiles available (i.e. Generic Grey Profile; Generic Grey Gamma 2.2 Profile; EPSON Gray - Gamma 2.2; and EPSON Gray - Gamma 1.8) — Export in Photos fails
Using Epson Scan 2 scanner software: Systematically changed all scanner settings (resolution; 16- vs. 8-bit grey; scan quality; color management (2.2 vs. 1.8) — Export in Photos fails
Using MacOS scanner software: B&W, 256 greys, 1200 resolution — Export in Photos fails
Same photo scanned in color using both Epson Scan 2 and MacOS scanner — Export in Photos succeeds.

I haven't been able to test a different scanner yet but will try to see if that makes a difference.

The edited images can be dragged to Desktop successfully and are reasonable quality, so that is my workaround for now. Would prefer the Export function as I understand that is better quality than dragging to Desktop?

Thanks again for your help, any further thoughts gratefully received!

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

202,205 points

Sep 2, 2023 8:23 AM in response to wjwt

wjwt wrote:

• Same photo scanned in color using both Epson Scan 2 and MacOS scanner — Export in Photos succeeds.

Then you may want to scan the photos in color and use the B&W filter in Photos to make them B&W - for the time being as a work-around. The photos will need more storage, however.

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B&w photos won't export

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